The young designer met Gabriel’s stare with perfect composure:
“Good evening, Mr. Rivers.”
That simple greeting was like gasoline on Gabriel’s fire.
“Well played, Sonia. I see why you were so calm–you already had my replacement lined up.”
“You throw away a world–class designer like me to promote some nobody kid with zero track record.”
His gaze darted between us, and suddenly his eyes widened with a flash of realization:
“Wow, Sonia, your double standards are impressive. When I do a favor for Skylar, it’s cheating, but when you’re grooming your boy toy, it’s completely justified?”
“You couldn’t wait to fire me just so you could promote him, right?”
Alex was a junior designer who had worked under Gabriel.
Whenever I visited the design department to see Gabriel, I’d notice Alex at his desk, sketching intensely, often working until dawn.
The night Gabriel took that necklace to impress Skylar, I’d gone looking for him and found his office empty.
Instead, I accidentally discovered Alex’s design sketches–intricate concepts with a unique aesthetic sense that not
only matched Gabriel’s work but sometimes surpassed it.
I immediately requested his personnel file.
Average background but exceptional grades.
He’d earned his way into the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp on merit alone and won countless awards during his time there.
Yet at So’She, he remained an unknown, junior designer.
When I asked around, I discovered Gabriel had been deliberately holding him back, preventing his promotion.
He even modified Alex’s most brilliant designs to make them mediocre.
I had planned to fast–track his career anyway, but when Gabriel created this mess, I seized the opportunity to let Alex take over the project.
At So’She, we believe in meritocracy, not office politics.
15:26
Chapter 3
“Gabriel,” I snapped, “stop projecting your own sleaziness onto everyone else.”
“Even if there was something between us–which there isn’t–you climbed the ladder on a woman’s back. Why can’t someone else follow your playbook?”
“Or is it that you’re so insecure that any man near me threatens your fragile ego?”
Hitting this nerve made Gabriel explode.
He charged forward, snatched the sketches from my hands, and flung them into the air:
“What do you mean I used a woman to get ahead? My position today comes from my talent alone!”
“It’s your family that needed me! Without my designs and years of blood and sweat, would So’She even be relevant today?”
As papers fluttered down around us, I stared at the pure rage contorting his face. His words hit me like ice water.
“Gabriel, be reasonable. If I hadn’t pulled your application from the rejection pile and given you resources and connections, would you be where you are today?”
“Is this how you repay me and my family for everything we’ve done for you?”
Before I could finish, Gabriel grabbed a nearby vase and smashed it violently against the floor.
Shards flew everywhere, cutting my arm and cheek.
Alex reacted instantly, restraining Gabriel’s arm just as he was about to slap me.
t moment, a phone ring sliced through the tension.
briel broke free from Alex’s grip, pulled out his phone, and answered.
After listening for a few seconds, his expression changed dramatically:
‘Skylar, don’t worry! I’m coming right now!”
